Releasable roll take-up device for knitting machines



0ct.28,-1947. A. DICKNO 2,429,574

RELEASABLE ROLL TAKE-UP DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES File'd Dec. 27', 1946 I n ME mm I Z3 INVENTOR 22" Z 1. .ALEXANDER memo BY I ATTO RNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1947 RELEASABLERGLL TAKE-UP DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Alexander Dickno, Fullerton, Pa., assignor to Blossom Products Corporation, Allentown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 27, 1946, Serial No. 718,825

, "14 Claims. 1 V This invention relates to take-up mechanisms for circular knitting machines, and more particularly to releasable holding means associated with a roll take-up carrier.

In the operation of conventional circular kniting machines, a tube of knitted fabric is directed downwardly from the knitting mechanism to two coacting take-up rollers, the downwardly moving tube of material being received between said rollers and directed downwardly therebeyond in flattened form so as to be conveniently receivable upon a rotating spindle. As said spindle rotates, the flattened tube winds itself thereabout until the diameter of the wound fabric reaches a predetermined magnitude, whereupon the spindle with the material wound thereon is removed from the machine.

Many circular knitting machines are of a structure wherein the entire knitting cylinder revolves; and since the take-up mechanism must receive the fabric from thecylinder, the spindle andwound fabric must rotate together with the cylinder. Such arrangements have been found to be inherentlydangerous due to the centrifugal force of the heavy rotating mass of wound or taken-up material. Where the speeds and masses are sufiiciently great, there is the ever present danger that breaking stresses would be induced in the supporting structure, or that the rotating take-up roll would be inadvertently dislodged from its position. It has accordingly been found necessary to provide such devices with firm and rigid supports; and to obviate the dangers from this source, the rigidity of the mechanism frequently made it difficult to remove the roll from the machine.

It is primarily within the contemplation of this invention to provide a take-up mechanism,

- wherein the above-mentioned disadvantages will not be present. And more specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide a firm and safe roll carrier structure provided with readily manipulable releasing means for enabling a full spindle to be removed from the machine. And in this aspect of my invention it is a further object to enable the said objectives to be attained both revolving and stationary cylinder knitting machines.

It is also within the contemplation of my in 2 pear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partially in section, showing the take-up mechanism of my invention with a roll of material operatively supported by the roll carrier, this View showing the lower portion of a circular knitting machine of the revolving cylinder type;

Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 taken along line 2--2, showing the locking mechanism in its operative or holding position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, substantially like Figure 2, but showing the locking means in its released position, and the roll of material ready for removal;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section, like that-of the lower portion of Figure 2, but showing the roll carrying spindle in its lowermost position; and

Figure 5 is a sectional planof Figure 1 taken substantially along line 5-5.

As aforesaid, the drawings illustrate the lower portion of a conventional circular knitting machine with a rotating cylinder, although the invention is equally adaptable for use with a knitting machine where the cylinder is stationary. The rotating cylinder is not illustrated in the drawing inasmuch as its construction is well known to those skilled in the art, the cylinder ring IE! serving to support the cylinder in well known manner. The rotation of cylinder ring llL-together with the cylinder, may be effectedin well known manher, one method being by the use of the spindle.

H engaging gear teeth l2 at the underside of the ring, the spindle being connected to gear 13 by shaft I4, the gear l3 being driven by means not shown. Depending from ring I 0 are the two carrier frame members 15 and it, these being disposed'within the space defined by the supporting legs I! of the knitting machine. Supported by the lower part of said members l5 and I 6 is the channel member l8 rotatively supportingthe shaft I9 which has fixably attached thereto the pinion 2B. This pinion is in operative engagement with the bevelgear 2i mounted on shaft 22 fixedly attached to crosspiece 23. At least oneouter terminal of shaft 19 has fixedly mounted thereon a gear 24 which is in engagement with gear 25 fixedly mountedon shaft extension 25 integral with knurled actuator rod 21. Shafts 26 and 28 extending from opposite sides of rod 21, are rotatably mounted within apertures 29 and 39, respectively, of frames. l6 and I5, respectively.

From the above it isapparent that upon an operative rotation of cylinder ringlfi, the entire the fabric 34 wound thereover.

3 roll carrier assembly (supported from members l5 and IE) will rotate. And with this rotation, the pinion 20 will travel around the toothed periphery of gear 2|, whereby pinion 20 and shaft [9 will be caused to rotate, thereby rotatably actuating the rod 21 through gears 24 and 25.

The roll carrier is the spindle 3! containing two oppositely disposed shaft extensions 32 and 33 which are slidably movable along substantially vertical tracks, to be hereinafter described, The arrangement is such that spindle 3! can move upwardly from its lowermost position shown in Figure 4 to a predetermined uppermost position where it is ready to be removed, in a manner to be hereinafter explained. In its said lowermost position fabric 34 (Figure 4) extending downwardly from the machine is wound around the spindle so that the knurled surface of rod 23 en. gages the fabric at the line of contact 35. As the actuator rod 21 rotates, in the manner aforesaid, it will rotatably actuate the spindle 3| due to the frictional engagement of its knurled surface with As this operation continues, it is apparent that knitted material 34 will continue to be progressively wound about the spindle to form a roll of gradually increasing diameter. During the entire operation,

the rod 21 is in engagement with the outer periphery of this roll; and as the diameter increases, it is apparent that the spindle 3| will rise upwardly guided by the two extensions 32 and 33 thereof slidably moving within their tracks. As will be observed in Figure 1, the roll 35 has reached such a diameter that the spindle 3! has moved upwardly a considerable distance from its original position shown in Figure 4.

The aforementioned two tracks are formed, in the preferred manner illustrated, by two pairs of spaced plates, one pair being attached to frame 15 and the other to frame l6. One set of guide plates, consisting of parallel members 31 and 3B are attached to the frame member I6, and the other set, consisting of members 39 and 40' are attached to frame member l5. The plates of each pair are separated to provide a space 4| adapted to slidably accommodate the spindle shaft terminals 32 and 33. The plates 39 and 40 are fixedly attached, preferably by countersunk screws 42, to, frame member [5, Likewise, plate 39 is attached.

fixedly to frame member l6. But plate 38 is pivotly mounted at 43 to the lower portion of frame member [6, so that it may be moved from a vertical operative position to a horizontal retracted position (Figure 3). The lower terminal 44 of movable plate 38 is flat, and in its upright position is resting upon the upper flat surface 45 of stop member 46, also fixedly attached to frame member I6. The lower outer corner of plate 38 is rounded at portion 41 thereof, so as to conveniently permit a rotatable movement of plate 38 until flat surface 48 rests upon said flat surface 45, to hold the plate 38 in its retracted position.

It should at this point be observed that retractable plate 38 is held in properpredetermined vertical position by virtue of the engagement of fiat lower terminal 44 with surface 45 of block 46, thereby enabling surfaces 45 and 50 of plates 38 and 31, respectively, to be parallel, and in this manner permitting a proper sliding movement of the shaft extensions 32 and 33 within their respective slots.

To hold retractable plate 33 in its operative vertical position, the bell crank lever 5| is employed. This lever is rotatably mounted on the upper part of frame H5 at the pivotal point 52,

this point being preferably above upper outer corner 53 of plate 35. The lever has a downwardly extending lip 54 which engages the upper outer corner portion of retractable plate 38, and holds it against outward movement. The lever 5! is held in this holding position by the action of spring 55 operatively positioned between the upper outer surface of plate 31 and the short arm 56.

When it is desired to remove a completed roll of knitted fabric from the machine, it is first necessary to cut the fabric at some point below the tube-flattening take-up rollers 51. For example, the line of severance can be at point 58. Thereafter the outer terminal portion 59 of the lever is manually manipulated upwardly, thereby causing the entire lever to rotate in clockwise direction against the action of spring 55. During this upward movement of the lever, the lip 54 becomes disengaged from the upper portion of member 38, thereby releasing said member 38 for retraction to the position shown in Figure 3. At this point, the roll 35 can readily be removed from the machine, and a new spindle replaced in its lowermost position, as shown at Figure 4. Upon a return of the retractable plate 38 into its vertical position, the lever 5! is lowered to again engage said plate and hold it locked thereat. The position of pivotal point 52 above corner 53 enables a ready engaging and disengaging movement of li 54 with the plate 38.

It is thus apparent that by the mechanism above described, a flattened tube of fabric rotat ably received on a take-up roll can be firmly locked in position, while permitting the roll to gradually increase in size until a predetermined diameter is reached. And it is further evident that by means of a simple releasing operation, the holding mechanism can be retracted so as to enable the roll to be readily removed and a new spindle replaced.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism having a rotatable spindle for receiving from the knitting mechanism a continuous length of fabric to be wound thereupon in the form of a roll, a carrier device for releasably holding the spindle comprising two oppositely disposed track sections adapted for slidable engagement with opposite ends of the spindle, each of said sections containing two adjacent plates spaced to slidably accommodate therebetween a terminal portion of the spindle, at least one of said plates being retractable to an inoperative position out of engagement with the spindle, whereby the spindle may be removed from the carrier device.

2. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism having a rotatable spindle for receiving from the knitting mechanism a continuous length of fabric to be wound thereupon in the form of a roll, a carrier device for releasably holding the spindle comprising two oppositely disposed track sections adapted for slidable engagement with opposite ends of the spindle, each of said sections containing two adjacent plates spaced to slidably accommodate therebetween a terminal portion of the spindle, at least. one of said plates being retractable to an inoperative position out of engagement with the spindle, whereby the spindle may be removed from the carrier device, and a able ock n memb r in elea e gagement with the said retractable plate.

3. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism, a rotatable spindle for receiving from the knit, ting mechanism a continuous length of fabric to be wound thereupon in the form of a roll, a carrier .device for releasably holding the spindle comprising two. oppositely .disposed track sections adapted for slidable engagement with opposite ends of the spindle, each of said sections containing two adjacent plates spaced to slidably accommodate therebetween a terminal portion of the spindle, at least one of said plates being retractable to an inoperative position out of engagement with the spindle, whereby the spindle may be removed from the carrier device, an actuator rod with a roughened surface adapted for rotatable driving engagement with the roll on said spindle, said rod being disposed in the region of the lower terminals of said plates, and means to rotate said actuator rod.

4. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism, the combination according to claim 3, the said means for rotating the actuator rod being operatively connected to the driving means of the knitting machine.

5. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism containing a cylinder'ring, a roll carrier assembly comprising two frame members depending from diametrically opposite portions of said ring, a track section attached to each of said frames, each of said sections containing two adjacent plates spaced apart to form tracks, a rotatable roll-carrier spindle disposedbetween said sections, the opposite ends of the spindle being slidably engageable with and movable along said tracks, at least one of said plates being retractable to an inoperative position out of engagement With the spindle, whereby the spindle may be removed from the carrier device, and a movable locking member in releasable engagement with the said retractable plate.

6. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism, the combination according to claim 5, further provided with an actuator rod having a knurled surface adapted for rotatable driving engagement with said roll-carrier spindle, said rod being rotatably carried by said frame members, and means to rotate said rod.

7. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism, the combination according to claim 5, further provided with an actuator rod having a knurled surface adapted for rotatable driving engagement with said roll-carrier spindle, said rod being rotatably carried by said frame members, the cylinder ring being rotatable whereby the entire roll carrier assembly rotates therewith, a shaft rotatably carried by said frame members, a pinion affixed to the shaft, a stationary bevel gear in engagement with said pinion, and transmission means operatively connecting said shaft with said rod, whereby upon an operative rotation of the cylinder ring the actuator rod will rotate. V

8. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism, a rotatable spindle for receiving from the knitting mechanism a continuouslength of fabric to be wound thereupon in the form of a roll, a carrier device for releasably holding the spindle comprising two oppositely disposed track sections adapted for slidable engagement with opposite ends of thespipdle, each. of said sections contain.- in two adjacent plates spaced to slidably accommodate therebetween a terminal portion of the spindle, at least one of said plates being pivot y movable from an upright operative position to a, horizontal inoperative position out of en eas ment with the spindle, whereby the spindle may be removed from the carrier device, and a stopcblcck in engagement with the said movable plate in'b th its said voperative and inoperative ncs tions- 9. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism, e combination according to claim 8, the outer and bottom surfaces of the plate being fiat and at right angles to each other, said stop block having a fiat surface engageable with said outer and bottom surfaces of the plate, for maintaining the plate in its extreme positions.

10. In a knitting machine take-up mechanism containing a cylinder ring, a roll carrier assembly comprising two frame members depending from diametrically opposite portions of said ring, a track section attached to each of said frames, each of said sections containing two adjacent plates spaced apart to form tracks, a rotatable roll-carrier spindle disposed between said sections, the opposite ends of the spindle being slidably engageable with and movable along said tracks, at least one of said plates being pivotly movable from an upright operative position out of engagement with the spindle, whereby the spindle may be removed from the carrier device, and a stop block in engagement with the said movable plate in both its said operative and inoperative positions, said block being ailiXed to the frame member supporting the movable plate.

11. In a take-up device of the class described, a roller spindle for rotatably receiving thereupon a continuous sheet of material to be wound thereupon, two oppositely disposed pairs of spaced plates each providing substantially vertical tracks, the terminal portions of saidspindle being slidably movable within said tracks, at least one of said plates being pivotally mounted and being rotatably retractable from an operative vertical position to a retracted inoperative position, releasable holding means for said retractable plate comprising a pivotly mounted lever having a lip engageable with said retractable plate to hold it against retraction, and spring means normally urging said lever in its said holding position.

12. In a take-up device of the class described, a roller spindle for rotatably receiving thereupon a continuous sheet of material to be wound thereupon, two oppositely disposed pairs of spaced plates each providing substantially vertical parallel tracks, the terminal portions of said spindle being slidably movable within said tracks, at least one of said plates being pivotly mounted and being rotatably retractable from an operative vertical position to a retracted inoperative position, releasable holding means for said retractable plate comprising a pivotly mounted lever having a lipengageable with said retractable plate to hold it against retraction, spring means normally urging said lever in its holding position, and a manually manipulable portion on said lever for actuating it, against the action of said spring, ut of engagement with the retractable plate, whereby said latter plate may be operatively retracted so as to enable the said spindle to be removed.

13. In a take-up device of the class described, the combination according to claim 12, the said lever being pivoted at a predetermined point above REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 963 Tompkins et a1. May 15, 1860 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,880 Great Britain 1887 

